MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Aussie forfeited rogue longliner Viarsa broken up in India

Australian officials ready to board the Uruguayan flag longliner

Famed, controversial fishing vessel Viarsa was dismantled in a Mumbai, India ship breaking yard last December, Australian authorities confirmed this week. The Uruguayan-flagged, 65-metre longliner had played a singular role as the subject of the longest pursuit in Australian maritime history.

In 2003, the Viarsa had been detected illegally fishing inside Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone around the Heard and McDonald Islands in the Southern Oceans. After fleeing, the Australian Fisheries and Customs patrol vessel Southern Supporter chased the violating vessel for 21 days and over 3,900 nautical miles. On 28 August, 2003, a joint force of officers and vessels from Australia, South Africa and the Falkland Islands finally cornered the Viarsain the South Atlantic and boarded the vessel. The Southern Supporter subsequently escorted the Viarsaback to Australia exactly eight weeks after the vessel had been first sighted. As part of the prosecution process, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) demanded forfeiture of the vessel. Though contested by the owners, the Federal court of Western Australia approved the forfeiture in February 2007 after which AFMA undertook a disposal tender for the vessel's demolition in India in December 2007. The Viarsacase boosted the profile of illegal fishing in the global community more than any other incident, AFMA authorities say. AFMA annually disposes a number of foreign vessels forfeited to the Australian government on a non-contestable basis. These range in size from small wooden traditional fishing vessels with 4 to 5 crewmembers to large factory ships that carry some 40 to 50 fishermen. (FIS)